Knut then agreed to this and gave Arn his seal with the three crowns, asking him to go to the writing chamber to affix the seal. Now only Emund's seal was lacking, but they all considered it a foregone conclusion that it would soon be attached next to the other seals, even though Emund himself had not the slightest knowledge of this impending business transaction.

   The next day Eskil and Knut, all the Norwegian retainers, and half of those from Arnäs were to ride to Forsvik on this errand. Arn wondered why they were so heavily armed for a peaceful mission carrying a load of silver, but Eskil explained that the best way to avoid a quarrel was to ensure that the man with whom one was about to conduct a tricky negotiation had as little desire to argue as possible. In that respect, Norwegian retainers would have a strongly cooling effect. When Emund affixed his seal to the document he needed to be in good health and of sound mind, otherwise everything would come to naught. Arn then thought that he understood and settled down.

   Now Knut took Arn aside, saying that in this situation it would be best if Arn were not in the retinue, because his presence might adversely affect Emund's peace of mind. Arn easily and quickly agreed, so quickly in fact that it surprised Knut, who had been dreading this conversation. But Arn had other plans and other desires, and he mentioned somewhat cautiously that while his kinsmen were away on business near the shores of Lake Vättern, he would be taking care of some matters at Husaby. Knut understood at once what he was referring to, for Eskil had already told him about Cecilia and the difficulties that might arise for her and Arn.

   It was just after St. Gertrude's Day, and spring was clearly felt in the air. The snow was easy enough to ride through but the ice was still hard, as the heavily laden and armed contingent rode out from Arnäs. They had to carry everything on their backs or in saddlebags, because no wagons could make it through at this point in the spring. Emund and his men would not be expecting visitors at this time of year, which would make the negotiations easier.

   They rode first to the north until they reached the River Tidan; the ice there was still exposed, making it easier to proceed all the way to the Askeberga ting site. There they camped overnight in the shelters. The next day they started off at dawn so as to reach Forsvik by evening, wanting to enter the courtyard before Emund's men discovered their approach.

   In this they were successful. Emund and his men were taken by surprise and swiftly disarmed. His retainers and others who looked capable of fighting were locked into storehouses and smithies and guarded closely by grim Norsemen. Present in the longhouse were only Emund himself, his grown son Germund, his wife Ingeborg, and three small children, as well as the house thralls that were necessary, although the visitors saw to it that none of them carried any weapons.

   It was a somber feast at which Eskil and Knut ate heartily, speaking in loud, carefree voices, while Emund and his family replied suspiciously, giving curt answers to everything that was said.

   Eskil seemed in especially good humor, and from the start he explained that he had come on business, and that they would surely succeed in reaching an agreement. After he had feasted for a while he ordered a chest of silver to be brought in. It was placed on the table between him and Emund, who brightened up a bit. The silver on the table spoke of business and not of death. And yet the conversation was sluggish.

   After they had been eating for a long time, Eskil proposed quite courteously that when they began to discuss the matter at hand, such discussions were best conducted among men, so Mistress Ingeborg and her children had the guests' permission to retire. The host family obeyed this command at once.

   When Eskil and Knut were alone with Emund, Eskil spoke simply and clearly. He said that as far as the price was concerned it might seem a bit low, for it was clear that Forsvik was worth more than fifty marks in silver; anyone could see that. Here he broke off to open his silver chest and take out the bill of sale, which he read aloud in the vernacular, but without mentioning all the names in the letter and especially not Knut Eriksson's. With this Emund was even more convinced that this matter really did concern striking a bargain, although an unfavorable one for him.

   Eskil then pointed out that the thirty marks in silver that Emund had received at Axevalla landsting, and now those words were mentioned for the first time, should be reckoned into the sale price. Those thirty marks had been intended as reconciliation, and Emund had not agreed to reconcile then, but he would be wise to do so now.

   Emund nodded that he could understand that way of thinking and replied somewhat cautiously that eighty marks in silver was still a good sum, especially as it offered reconciliation into the bargain. Eskil said that he was glad it had been easy to understand each other so far.

   But Emund was not ready to affix his seal and accept the silver until he had received certain assurances, for it did not seem safe and secure to do business with his own retainers taken prisoner by Norwegian berserkers of the most belligerent type. He could not understand why the man sitting at the table with them, the man called Knut, had anything to do with this matter, because he knew no Knut.

   Eskil now replied that he could well understand Emund's ap prehensions. But they could ease his concerns in a simple way: the next morning they would load the sleighs with Emund's family and those retainers who wanted to go along. After the sleighs had departed they would wait long enough for those who had left to reach safety before concluding the bargain. In this way Emund would not have to fear for the lives and safety of his family.

   Emund concurred but added that his own life would not be worth much the moment he was left alone at Forsvik surrounded by men who were not his friends.

   Eskil nodded thoughtfully at this and agreed that the same was true at the moment. But if Emund's kinsmen were allowed to leave alive with such a big head start that they could not be caught, then that would be much different from killing them all immediately, because an agreement was proving difficult to reach.

   Emund then said that he would agree. But he had one last thing to suggest. The silver that would pay for the purchase should travel in the same sleighs with his family.

   Eskil found that proposal unacceptable since it was not customary to pay for something one had not yet received. If Emund refused, all the silver would be lost and of no use. They agreed to meet each other halfway after wrangling for a while. Half the purchase price would leave with the morning's sleighs, and Emund would get the other half after he had confirmed the purchase with his own seal. There they left the matter, and they all retired for the night, though many at Forsvik had trouble sleeping.

   When the morning came, half of the locked-up retainers were released so that they could have breakfast and prepare the sleighs that would be needed. Then Emund said goodbye to his wife Ingeborg and his children, who as agreed would carry half of the silver which Eskil brought out to the lead sleigh and placed next to Emund's wife. The sleighs then set off across the ice of Lake Vättern.